Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with phoneshttp://ask.metafilter.com/tags/phones
Questions tagged with 'phones' at Ask MetaFilter.Sun, 01 Mar 2015 12:17:08 -0800Sun, 01 Mar 2015 12:17:08 -0800en-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60This guy was brilliant...but I can't remember his name.http://ask.metafilter.com/276618/This%2Dguy%2Dwas%2Dbrilliantbut%2DI%2Dcant%2Dremember%2Dhis%2Dname
A couple of years ago I read a talk that was posted online by a guy (maybe a professor or culture critic) who talked about how in the future everyone would have great tech gizmos (phones, iPads, etc.) but everyone would also be poor. Does this ring bell? Anyone know who I'm referring to? (BTW, it's not Jaron Lanier or folks of his ilk, but someone more off the beaten path, from about 5 years ago or so).<br>
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Thanks<br>
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ZPtag:ask.metafilter.com,2015:site.276618Sun, 01 Mar 2015 12:17:08 -0800zenpopIf not an Otterbox...then what?http://ask.metafilter.com/275378/If%2Dnot%2Dan%2DOtterboxthen%2Dwhat
I tend to be very rough on phones and my beloved cell phone case maker otterbox does not make a case for my new phone (HTC Desire 601/ZARA) What would you get instead and what site would you buy it from? Thanks :)tag:ask.metafilter.com,2015:site.275378Mon, 02 Feb 2015 19:08:19 -0800CalicattLooking for a pay-as-you-go option for a Canadian cell phonehttp://ask.metafilter.com/274282/Looking%2Dfor%2Da%2Dpay%2Das%2Dyou%2Dgo%2Doption%2Dfor%2Da%2DCanadian%2Dcell%2Dphone
I want a plan that has NO monthly fees for a rarely used cell phone. This is a follow-up question to <a href="http://ask.metafilter.com/273913/Best-and-easiest-digital-payment-system-for-an-outdoor-market">THIS</a> question that I asked last week. (Many thanks to everyone who helped - you've given me a big boost up my steep learning curve). And apologies in advance for my wordiness.<br>
I have now acquired an iphone 4s, and am going to be signing up with Payd to accept both credit and debit cards. For starters, is it correct, as some people in my previous question said, that I can do this with no SIM card or phone plan at all, i.e. only using the iphone to access the internet?<br>
I will be using this phone primarily to accept cards, but given that I now have it, it seems silly not to activate the phone feature. However, I will rarely use the phone, probably only to contact my wife from time to time while traveling.<br>
When I lived in UK, I had a T-Mobile phone that had no monthly fees. I would just add money to a little card whenever I needed to, and that was the only cost.<br>
I've been examining Rogers' "pay-as-you-go" plans, and they're not really what I think of as "pay-as-you-go", i.e. it appears that I have to pay at least $15 per month to get any service.<br>
Is this the case?<br>
This is a locked Rogers phone, so any solutions need to deal with them. Is there a cheap way to have very occasional cell phone use and no monthly fee?<br>
Thanks!tag:ask.metafilter.com,2015:site.274282Sun, 11 Jan 2015 13:07:46 -0800crazylegsHelp me find a dumbphone!http://ask.metafilter.com/271793/Help%2Dme%2Dfind%2Da%2Ddumbphone
Which dumbphone should I get? Special snowflake details inside. Hello, <br>
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A friend would like the best non-smartphone on the market that contains the following qualities. She has AT&amp;T service. I believe it's possible for her to bring in an aftermarket phone and have them hook it up. <br>
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-Lots of memory<br>
-A decent battery<br>
-A decent camera<br>
-A full qwerty keyboard.<br>
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Does anyone have any suggestions based on personal experience?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.271793Wed, 19 Nov 2014 16:29:29 -0800nurgleWhat cheap prepaid phone is good for travel between USA and Canada?http://ask.metafilter.com/262493/What%2Dcheap%2Dprepaid%2Dphone%2Dis%2Dgood%2Dfor%2Dtravel%2Dbetween%2DUSA%2Dand%2DCanada
I need a prepaid "burner" phone for work in the USA later this year. However, I will need one that works in Canada as well, which was not an option the last time I was traveled with one. I will be in the USA in the fall. When I am in the USA I usually just pick up a cheapo "burner" cell phone like Net-10 or Trac-phone and top up the unit charges as I need. <br>
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This trip, however, includes several weeks in Canada. The last time (in 2009) I used an American prepaid phone in Canada my service would not allow me to call or receive outside of the USA. Any suggestions for a semi-disposable cheap phone / plan to be purchased in the New York City area that can work on both sides of the border?<br>
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Coming from Europe, I'm a bit confused when researching US prepaid plans. Providers like Verizon and ATT offer monthly prepaid plans for set fees. Are these similar to the "burner" phones I have used, where I just pick up a card at a drug store when I need to top up minutes, or are they bound for a contracted period of time? Can I just buy a cheap unlocked phone and stick in a new SIM card from one of these services, or do I need to buy a phone from them all ready to serve their wireless masters?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.262493Sun, 25 May 2014 16:22:15 -0800zaelicA smart phone smart enough to answer incoming calls by voice.http://ask.metafilter.com/258652/A%2Dsmart%2Dphone%2Dsmart%2Denough%2Dto%2Danswer%2Dincoming%2Dcalls%2Dby%2Dvoice
Due to limited mobility from a disability, I'm forced to rely strictly on voice commands to control a cell phone. Over the years, trying to find a solution for reliable hands free functionality in this area has been challenging. Anyone familiar with voice recognition in the past knows the capricious, quirky nature of the beast. It can be VERY frustrating and almost comical at times. Anyway, with today's processing speeds and the advent of Siri and Google Now, I can happily say that it's almost there for me. In fact, I give a 90% approval rating for recent experiences with the latest Iphone and Android products. The biggest obstacle now has been the necessity to hit the home button to trigger the lovely Siri. This last hindrance was overcome by none other than Google with their release of the Moto X -- which waits in standby mode listening for your command. I was so excited by all the reviews that I rushed out to buy my own. It turned out fantastically, but (and there's always a butt in these things) it came with another quirky disappointment. And this one is kind of surprising: The damn thing won't answer incoming calls by voice. I've looked thru all the settings and searched high and low for an app but to no avail. The closest I've come is an app that auto answers after one ring, but who wants that? What if I'm trying to dodge the ex-gf. Lol. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.258652Thu, 13 Mar 2014 18:01:48 -0800dthm42How can someone stay on the grid but minimize government tracking?http://ask.metafilter.com/255630/How%2Dcan%2Dsomeone%2Dstay%2Don%2Dthe%2Dgrid%2Dbut%2Dminimize%2Dgovernment%2Dtracking
Suppose I want to use my phone and computer like a normal human being (I do not want to jump through lots of annoying technical hoops every time I make a call or send email or browse a web page), but I want to minimize how much government agencies can learn about me. What are some reasonably cheap (free is best) and transparent methods or tools or products I could use? And what are some more secure (if more elaborate and annoying) methods I could use supposing I didn't mind jumping through a few extra hoops every once in a while if the stakes were high enough?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.255630Mon, 20 Jan 2014 03:03:23 -0800pracowityAndroid smartphones available for under $250?http://ask.metafilter.com/255187/Android%2Dsmartphones%2Davailable%2Dfor%2Dunder%2D250
Best no-contract Android smartphone that I can buy (ideally new) for under $250? Looks like I'm taking it back to 2011! <br>
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My smartphone is very close to dead, three months before my contract ends and I can upgrade. That (plus the question earlier this weekend) got me to realize that the cost of a prepaid (ie, no contract) Verizon plan is $40 less per month than what I'm paying (unlimited talk and text, 4 GB data). So, it looks like I should just pay for a new phone now and recoup the costs via that $40/mo savings starting in March. I have no problem going no contract (even if Verizon won't let me port my number or whatever) since I'm on Google voice. That said, I used to have AT&amp;T and switched to Verizon due to dropped calls, so I probably won't switch carriers altogether.<br>
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I don't want to spend $500, plus I've been pretty happy with the original Razr (XT912). I have minor complaints (photo quality and declining battery life) but also some areas where I've been really impressed (stupidly, I go without a case too often, and I have dropped it a LOT, and it's just now catching up to me). <br>
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It looks like I can pick up a new Razr on eBay for about $175, or a Maxx for about $250 (can't find that deal now, though, so I may have dreamed it and be stuck with the non-Maxx). But I haven't been paying any attention to the cell phone market. If there's something that I should consider instead, I'd love to know. I've been thinking about trying something from HTC? From the crash test videos I've watched, I'm under the impression that the Samsung phones are too fragile for me? (Honestly, I'm not going too be able to not drop my phone.) I'd ideally like to buy something new, but could be persuaded otherwise.<br>
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I tend to use my phone for: business calls in places with high background noise, constant email and web surfing, lots of photo-taking in indoor low light situations, lots of audiobooks, never videos, almost never music, occasionally to drop off of ladders. I've gotten resigned to traveling with my power cord, so the 6 hour battery of the original Razr was fine, but not so much the 2-3 hour life of my aging battery. Oh, and the 16 GB memory card from my current phone seems to be usable, so I'm not too worried about memory, assuming the phone has a slot for that. Thanks!tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.255187Sun, 12 Jan 2014 11:55:09 -0800slidellHow much more secure are older low tech phones than the more modern oneshttp://ask.metafilter.com/254750/How%2Dmuch%2Dmore%2Dsecure%2Dare%2Dolder%2Dlow%2Dtech%2Dphones%2Dthan%2Dthe%2Dmore%2Dmodern%2Dones
Are older phones or phones designed for poorer countries any less susceptible to spying than the latest Apple, Google or Android models? I've read about CEO's looking for the very old brick phones because since they don't have the sophisticated technology of the modern phones, they're harder to monitor or track. I understand the phones w/o apps are clearly more secure regarding third parties because they aren't sending personal data to companies. But what the government and everything else; voice, location via cell towers, SMS; the very basics.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.254750Sat, 04 Jan 2014 14:38:10 -0800CollectiveMindIs it irresponsible for me to keep my cell phone on 'silent' at night?http://ask.metafilter.com/253006/Is%2Dit%2Dirresponsible%2Dfor%2Dme%2Dto%2Dkeep%2Dmy%2Dcell%2Dphone%2Don%2Dsilent%2Dat%2Dnight
Here's the thing: I don't have a land-line.
Over Thanksgiving, my mother got upset at the thought that she couldn't reach me late at night if there were some kind of emergency - the dreaded "3 am phone call." I understand her worry, but I'm feeling very resistant to the idea of keeping the phone on at night. In part, this because I know that most of the calls I'll get will just be annoying and unwanted (I have a fairly severe telemarketing issue) but I think there is also a kind of psychological resistance. I'm a slave to my phone already for all these hours of the day, and it feels good to know it won't be bothering me while I'm sleeping. I'm reluctant to give that up. Can you help me sort through these issues? My partner and I both keep our phones by our beds, since we use them as our alarms. As grad students, we also keep a late-shifted schedule (1 am - 9 am). For both those reasons, we turn our phones to "silent" when we go to bed - and in fact, my phone is on silent 99% of the time, but when I'm awake, I check it anywhere from every couple of minutes to every couple of hours.<br>
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I guess I have a few questions:<br>
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1. Am I an outlier? For those of you who are cell-phone only, are you reachable at night? I think a general consensus that I'm way out of line might help me push past this. It's partly the fact that both my partner and I ended up in this situation without even discussing it that made it seem like the 'natural' way of doing things. <br>
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2. Am I being irresponsible? I don't want to invite horror stories, exactly, but maybe part of the issue is that I've never been the recipient of this kind of phone call. Certainly, if a parent or a sibling went into the hospital late at night, I'd want to know immediately - but there are other times of day when I sacrifice immediate availability in exchange for other benefits. How long would you say someone could be unreachable via phone before they are being irresponsible? Are there other reasons to keep the phone on at night that I'm not thinking of, or other issues I'm not considering?<br>
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3. Is there an obvious compromise or solution?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.253006Mon, 02 Dec 2013 19:11:20 -0800pretentious illiterateHow do I make sure my iPhone isn't a brick in India(prepaid SIM plans)?http://ask.metafilter.com/252896/How%2Ddo%2DI%2Dmake%2Dsure%2Dmy%2DiPhone%2Disnt%2Da%2Dbrick%2Din%2DIndiaprepaid%2DSIM%2Dplans
I'm going to be travelling to India soon and I wanted to get a prepaid cellular connection for my iPhone to avoid roaming charges and for internet access.
What's the cheapest/best prepaid connection in India (going to be travelling around South India)? Is there some way I can buy it in the US so I can have cellular access from when I immediately arrive? (I will be using a lot of data because I will not be near wifi and would prefer not to go to an internet cafe every time I need to access the internet)<br>
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I know T-Mobile offers no roaming charges now but this will not work for me because it looks like the plans are much cheaper in india and I've got an unlocked phone.<br>
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What's the cheapest/best prepaid connection in India? Is there some way I can buy it in the US so I can have cellular access from when I immediately arrive?<br>
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I've found the following: <br>
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http://www.telestial.com/view_product.php?ID=LSIM-IN02 (Looks like a prepaid Airtel SIM). Are there any other websites that sell these SIM cards as well? Does any have any experience with this site?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.252896Sun, 01 Dec 2013 10:20:36 -0800touaregI don't need a smart phone. What do I need?http://ask.metafilter.com/251851/I%2Ddont%2Dneed%2Da%2Dsmart%2Dphone%2DWhat%2Ddo%2DI%2Dneed
I have a Verizon iPhone 4 that is now off-contract. It's clear from my usage that I don't really need a smart phone. For my purposes, what do I need? I love my smart phone, but it's clear from how I use it that I don't need it, and I no longer care to pay the monthly cost for it. I am going to describe my usage patterns, and you are going to tell me what to do. Thanks.<br>
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It's a Verizon iPhone 4, for what that's worth. My contract has expired and I'm now on month-to-month. I am open to options that involve somehow continuing to use this phone, or that involve switching to a different phone.<br>
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Here's what I do with my phone:<br>
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1. Phone calls: Less than 60 minutes per month.<br>
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2. Texting: about 1000/month, +/- a few hundred depending.<br>
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I rarely check e-mail or surf the web on my phone, usually doing those things on my iPad when wifi is available. I almost never play games on my phone.<br>
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I do use my phone quite a bit for listening to music and audio books, using Google maps for navigation when traveling with my kids, and for taking pictures and videos of the kids. I have often been tempted to get a dedicated GPS, and I miss my Canon PowerShot, so I think I would be happy to have a less-fancy phone alongside dedicated devices for these purposes. You can let me know if you think I'm wrong or right about this.<br>
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I'd love very specific advice like, "You need X phone through Y carrier!" I find the electronics marketplace overwhelming, and one reason I've stayed in Apple's walled garden is the way it so helpfully limits my choices, so please take my hand and lead me through the wilderness.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.251851Wed, 13 Nov 2013 07:30:38 -0800not that girlCan I buy an iPhone and use it only as a camera? http://ask.metafilter.com/249742/Can%2DI%2Dbuy%2Dan%2DiPhone%2Dand%2Duse%2Dit%2Donly%2Das%2Da%2Dcamera
Can I buy an iPhone and use it only as a camera without having to sign up for a service plan?
I don't really need nor want a smartphone, however, I'm now wondering, with Instagram, etc, if I should start shooting some stuff on a smartphone?
The only downside is that I like having big, canvas prints up around the house am under the impression that the phone's image quality is still pretty crappy.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.249742Sun, 06 Oct 2013 12:44:25 -0800tangyraspberryPhone for a 9 year oldhttp://ask.metafilter.com/249681/Phone%2Dfor%2Da%2D9%2Dyear%2Dold
Looking to get a phone for our 9-year-old son for use in case of emergency. Several factors precipitated the decision, but most recently, he was left sitting alone outside school for an hour waiting to be picked up early. I'm generally skeptical of giving young kids phones, but my son does have some (minor) special needs--he has severe food allergies, a heart condition, and some neurological issues the cause some mild motor skills deficits and visual-spatial difficulties that cause him to get lost easily. We'd like for him to be able to contact us if he needs to. <br>
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The most recent incident happened when he misunderstood that we were going to check him out of school early. He told his teacher that we were checking him out. She didn't know anything about it, so sent him to the office (by himself) to call while the class went to the gym for a pep rally. The secretary called his mom, but didn't get an answer (and didn't leave a message) and told him that she must be on the way. He then went and sat out behind the school and waited, where I found him an hour later when I came to pick him up at the usual time. Had his mom picked him up early, they wouldn't have been able to find him because he wasn't in the office (where she would have looked for him) or with his class at the pep rally (where he should have been). All of which is a long way to say, we're not really looking for advice on <em>whether</em> to get a phone.<br>
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It looks like the <a href="http://www.fireflymobile.com/">Firefly phone</a> probably does what we need--there don't seem to be many phones in the US market any more that aren't smartphones. Are there other options?<br>
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Second, we're on T-Mobile--should we add his phone to our account, or just get a prepaid SIM card for his line?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.249681Sat, 05 Oct 2013 05:16:37 -0800fogovonslackWhat makes a ringtone audible in an urban environment?http://ask.metafilter.com/249412/What%2Dmakes%2Da%2Dringtone%2Daudible%2Din%2Dan%2Durban%2Denvironment
Even with the ringer set on maximum volume, I tend not to hear my phone ringing when I'm out walking on a busy London street. I'd like a ringtone that will be audible over traffic noise, but not be earsplitting or annoying when I'm indoors. Are there any acoustic properties (other than sheer loudness) that I should look for in a ringtone to help it stand out against a background of car engines and other street noise?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.249412Mon, 30 Sep 2013 06:25:11 -0800yankeefogMy traditionally terrible timing + need for a new phone = disaster?http://ask.metafilter.com/248897/My%2Dtraditionally%2Dterrible%2Dtiming%2Dneed%2Dfor%2Da%2Dnew%2Dphone%2Ddisaster
I need a new smartphone. I am tech savvy and an informed consumer, but I also have terrible timing (in general). So though I'm looking at the options, my terrible timing + T-Mobile's expensive new phones make me very unsure of what to get. Halp? I've had a MyTouch Slide 4G (Android) for quite a while. It's been fine, though not without its problems. For the most part, I've quite liked it and it does all the things I need it to do (email, internet, GPS, scheduling, cloud access, phone, etc). Now it's old and (past) time for an upgrade. I'm pretty sure I must stick with T-Mobile because they seem to be the only carrier that works in my house (no landline for years). When I moved here, I had to switch from Verizon when they did diagnostics and found out that I was correct, there's no service here. People with other services have lost all their calls made from here. Hence T-Mobile. <br>
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T-Mobile's new plans include no inexpensive smart phones, and most of their decent phones are now up around the $600 range, which they divide up into monthly payments. I have been thinking about the HTC One, maybe an iPhone, or the Galaxy S 4. All are around the same price. <br>
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I have called T-Mobile, have gone to the store, have done extensive online research and talked to people, but I also have TERRIBLE timing in all of the things, so I'm afraid that as soon I choose overpriced phone x, they'll release overpriced phone x.2 and I'll be left paying for the other one forever. <br>
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I'm fine with either Android or iPhone, and familiar with both interfaces. I do not play any games or listen to much music on my phone, though I take a fair amount of photos. What would be my best bet here? Thanks!tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.248897Sat, 21 Sep 2013 09:54:51 -0800FlyByDayCan I fix this, or do I need to suck it up and get a new phone?http://ask.metafilter.com/248577/Can%2DI%2Dfix%2Dthis%2Dor%2Ddo%2DI%2Dneed%2Dto%2Dsuck%2Dit%2Dup%2Dand%2Dget%2Da%2Dnew%2Dphone
I've had my phone (a Samsung Galaxy S Blaze) for about a year and a half, and it is no longer under warranty. Recently, it has developed two problems relating to aspects of the hardware. I need to determine if I (a person with little to no experience with fixing electronics) can fix these problems inexpensively, or if I should just bite the bullet and buy a new phone. (I'm a student, so buying a new phone after less than two years is not something that makes my wallet happy.) Problem one: the external speaker stopped working suddenly. In other words, the speaker used for speakerphone, playing audio, or for the phone's ringer and notification tones, is out of commission. (The speaker used during phone calls that are not on speakerphone still works.)<br>
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Problem two: I use headphones with my phone constantly (even more so now that the external speaker is broken). Within the past couple days, the headphone jack on my phone is working only erratically, and seems to have started damaging any headphones I plug into it. When I get any sound at all, it's only the right channel, and often the phone seems to flip back and forth rapidly between thinking the jack is in use or empty. Any headphones I use in the jack will, after a small amount of use in the jack, only transmit through the right channel. <br>
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Is it worth trying to fix these (and is it even possible for someone with no experience in this stuff), or am I better off jumping ship?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.248577Mon, 16 Sep 2013 09:37:43 -0800ocherdracoWhat's the best cell phone for texting?http://ask.metafilter.com/246727/Whats%2Dthe%2Dbest%2Dcell%2Dphone%2Dfor%2Dtexting
Not your usual question. I'm on a family plan with unlimited everything so I'm not asking about plans or providers. I just want to be able to text a lot without strife. I'm due for a new phone soon (would like to stay on Sprint, if that matters). Currently I have an LG Optimus running Android 2.3.3. It's OK, but I bet something even better is out there. I like texting, I like typing notes, all that. My ideal cell phone would have the following:<br>
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<ul><br>
<li>If it's a touchscreen, I DON'T want the keyboard to take up practically the ENTIRE screen, so that I only see what I type one or two lines at a time. On my phone in landscape orientation, my keyboard actually takes up the whole screen. :(</li><br>
<li>It can receive MMS (text messages with pics) too, hopefully</li><br>
<li>Not sure how to quantify this... but a screen that doesn't misintepret my intentions would be nice. Sometimes I have to hold down on a key to bring up a set of different keys, and holding down/sliding over to my desired key often presses other keys and then ugh I have to backspace and start over...</li><br>
<li>A decent UI for when I want to send a text message. None of <a href="http://ask.metafilter.com/54417/Faster-Cell-Phone-Text-Messaging-Please">this mess</a>.</li><br>
</ul><br>
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I like Android but I'm open to trying any others. Even Windows Phones or BlackBerries :). I just want something that's somewhat enjoyable to type a lot on.<br>
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P.S. Right now I'm seriously considering the Samsung Galaxy Note. Beyond the fact that sliding a stylus around feels utterly indiscreet, is it comfortable for long-term use?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.246727Thu, 15 Aug 2013 15:18:55 -0800The Biggest DreamerPorting number from Sprint to Boost? (without contract being finished)http://ask.metafilter.com/246338/Porting%2Dnumber%2Dfrom%2DSprint%2Dto%2DBoost%2Dwithout%2Dcontract%2Dbeing%2Dfinished
I need to port my Sprint phone number over to boost. Bills are out of control and I rue ever leaving Boost for a contract phone. I've been with Sprint over a year, but not long enough to finish out two-year contract. Yes--I know I will be on hook for early termination fee. My main worry is that I owe money to Sprint (phone is still on for a few more days). I want porting to go smoothly and I do not want to lose my cell phone number. I can do this tomorrow or later today. Just let me know what I need to do to port number smoothly. Thanks for your help.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.246338Fri, 09 Aug 2013 09:18:14 -0800caveatzWhat phone should I buy?http://ask.metafilter.com/242115/What%2Dphone%2Dshould%2DI%2Dbuy
Is a several-years old (2009-2010 era) smartphone worth $30 on eBay? My trusty Verizon dumbphone has given up the ghost after several years of honorable service. I'm thinking about making the smartphone jump and figured I would buy a cheap used dumbphone on eBay to last a few months until the new iPhone comes out in the fall, and then I could make a more permanent decision about a phone. <br>
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But then I saw that you can get <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?LH_BIN=1&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_nkw=Verizon%20no%20contract%20smartphone&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=15&_udhi=35">older smartphones on eBay</a> for about what I was going to spend, and thought maybe it would be nice. But also maybe it would be terrible since they are old and slow and their firmware isn't supported anymore...?<br>
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I basically want to make calls, text, and maybe take pictures and text them to my mom. It would be nice to play games, I guess? <br>
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Okay, tell me if one of these old guys would make me happy or if I should just get a clamshell. I will do what you tell me.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.242115Sun, 02 Jun 2013 13:54:15 -0800Snarl FurilloOutdated IT equipment - anything better to do with it than recycling? http://ask.metafilter.com/241870/Outdated%2DIT%2Dequipment%2Danything%2Dbetter%2Dto%2Ddo%2Dwith%2Dit%2Dthan%2Drecycling
I have a temp job tidying IT store rooms. We're gonna throw away (I mean recycle) loads of stuf, like hundreds of kettle (power) leads, couple dozen first gen Cisco VoIP phones. Any better ideas? So in the past few weeks literally every single generation of Mac and IT peripherals since 1990 have gone through my hands. Not giving away the 100 pre-Steve-Jobs Mac stickers we found (-; but mst of the other stuff just goes on a pile for the recycling contractor. <br>
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Any ideas from the hive mind? Sadly, any alternative plan cannot really take more effort as calling the contractor. Many thanks !tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.241870Wed, 29 May 2013 07:36:49 -0800yoHighnesscell phone networkshttp://ask.metafilter.com/241205/cell%2Dphone%2Dnetworks
Does any cell phone network engineer perhaps know why you can't hear your own voice when speaking on a cell? I have noticed that when I speak on a landline, I can hear my own voice attenuated in the receiver. It helps in monitoring one's speaking volume. That doesn't seem to happen on a cell. I can't hear my own voice in the receiver and therefore frequently end up yelling or speaking more loudly than I would normally.<br>
Does anyone know why this is the case? And is there a fix to it? Something the carriers might do?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.241205Sat, 18 May 2013 12:32:57 -0800jtexman1Is there a 2-in-1 charger/aux cable for mini-USB phones?http://ask.metafilter.com/239384/Is%2Dthere%2Da%2D2in1%2Dchargeraux%2Dcable%2Dfor%2DminiUSB%2Dphones
My wife wants to switch from her iPhone to either a Windows Phone or Android device, but one sticking point she has is the ability to use a single, charger/aux cable in her car. Right now she has a cable that charges her iPhone while also being able to connect to her stereo via auxiliary cable. I think it's a Kensington product. It has three connectors built into one cable. She prefers this over having two separate cables to manage.
I need one with a mini-USB connector rather than the iPhone connector. So far, I can't seem to find such a creature, if indeed it even exists. My Google-fu is weak, I suppose.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.239384Thu, 18 Apr 2013 08:59:38 -0800jackypaperT-Mobile: Stay or Go?/iPhone or No?http://ask.metafilter.com/239128/TMobile%2DStay%2Dor%2DGoiPhone%2Dor%2DNo
I have had a reasonably happy relationship with my T-Mobile G2 (aka HTC Desire Z) these past two years, but my contract is up, and I have long coveted the iPhone, mostly based on its picture taking and video chatting capabilities. Should I just get one and take advantage of T-Mobile's new pricing? Or should I jump to a new carrier? An attempt to make this less open-ended is inside. I have been a T-Mo customer nearly as long as I've had a cell phone, and I really do like their service and pricing, especially the new scheme. I rarely make calls, but quality is normally fine. My impression is that my data service is slower than other carriers, but I don't really know how to judge what difference a new carrier and a new phone would make. I spend most of my time in Washington, DC and always have pretty good reception. So here is the main question:<br>
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<strong> How can I tell how much faster things would be if I switched to AT&amp;T or Verizon?</strong><br>
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<small>Bonus overthinking about whether iPhone is right for me: I am happy with Android, but I don't consider it a member of my family. Also, I'm pissed at Google over killing Reader (which I do consider to be a family member). I mostly use the phone for web browsing, email, Facebook, NYT, and podcasts (using doggcatcher). It is rarely convenient for me to sync the phone with a desktop - would that impact my iPhone experience? I am willing to consider hot new Android phones, but I am not crazy about how enormous they are. And I like the idea of being able to use FaceTime with friends and family who also have iPhones.</small>tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.239128Sun, 14 Apr 2013 08:33:13 -0800XalfWi-Fi and cell service drop out intermittently at our apartment. Why?http://ask.metafilter.com/236081/WiFi%2Dand%2Dcell%2Dservice%2Ddrop%2Dout%2Dintermittently%2Dat%2Dour%2Dapartment%2DWhy
First, let me state that I have no idea if these two things are interrelated, but it seems like they could be, so I'm going to go ahead and conjecture here: our AT&amp;T cell phone service drops from nearly full 3G to one bar from time to time (usually during calls, of course) and our wi-fi does the same thing. I've tried timing it and I can't seem to nail it down to anything. Could these service drops be related? Some details:<br>
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Both of us are using MacBook pros and iPhone 4s. Our modem/router/wireless access point is a Motorola Surfboard that is probably about 5 years old now. We previously lived in a different apartment in Chicago and I don't think we had the same wi-fi problem there, but I suppose we could be wrong.<br>
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Any ways that I can test connectivity in some way that would be beneficial to fixing the problem? Is it possible that there's some sort of signal interference that is causing both signals to drop? I'm not sure if it happens simultaneously, but that'll be the next thing I check (waiting for the wi-fi to drop and then checking the phone connectivity meter).<br>
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The building is in Jamaica Plain, Boston, not far from a previous apartment where we had little to no problem with cell connection. The building is brick and there is a hill behind it, to the west. We are on the second floor of the building.<br>
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Not sure where to start on this one, and I'm happy to provide any more information for folks with good ideas. Thanks!tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.236081Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:21:55 -0800summerteeth